"The cliff-edge temple of the pulque god where pilgrimage endures across five centuries"
Archaeological Zone Tepozteco
Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico
Six hundred meters above the valley floor, on a cliff edge overlooking the town of Tepoztlan, stands a temple dedicated to Tepoztecatl, the Aztec god of pulque, fertility, and the harvest. For over five centuries, pilgrims have made the steep climb to honor this deity who led the Four Hundred Rabbits, the divine spirits of intoxication born from the maguey plant. The Spanish destroyed the original shrine, but they could not destroy the devotion. Each September 7th, pilgrims climb through the night to celebrate the Festival del Tepoztecatl, consuming pulque in honor of the god whose spirits they say still reside within the stone.
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Quick Facts
Location
Tepoztlan, Morelos, Mexico
Tradition
Site Type
Coordinates
18.9860, -99.0991
Last Updated
Jan 12, 2026
Built by the Xochimilca between 1150-1350 CE. Conquered by Aztec Triple Alliance 1452. Spanish destruction of shrine in 16th century failed to end pilgrimage tradition. Annual September festival has continued for centuries.
Origin Story
According to Aztec mythology, Tepoztecatl was one of the 400 children of Mayahuel, goddess of the maguey plant, and Patecatl, god who discovered fermentation. As leader of the Centzon Totochtin, the Four Hundred Rabbits representing drunkenness, Tepoztecatl personified the ritual and cultural significance of pulque. His alternative name Ometochtli, Two Rabbit, reflects his calendrical association. He was also known as Ehecacone, 'son of the wind,' connecting him to Tlaloc's rain cult and the forces necessary for maguey cultivation. According to local tradition, the gods Okuninushi and Sukunabikona came from Izumo to this region as peacemakers. Granted one day to build a stone palace, they labored through the night but were thwarted by rebellious local kami. By dawn the structure remained incomplete, but the gods proclaimed their spirits would reside within the stone for eternity, pacifying the land. Another legend holds that the nearby village of Amatlan is the birthplace of Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, making the entire region sacred geography.
Key Figures
Tepoztecatl (Ometochtli)
The Xochimilca
Spiritual Lineage
El Tepozteco exists within a network of sacred sites including Teotihuacan, Malinalco, Xochicalco, Cholula, and Templo Mayor. The region's connection to Quetzalcoatl and continuing temazcal traditions place it within ongoing Mesoamerican spiritual practice. The unbroken September festival represents one of Mexico's most remarkable examples of religious continuity across colonial and modern periods.
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